For the Love of Bread: Bakery Cafes in Singapore

When it comes to freshly-baked breads and pastries, would you be willing to travel far and wide just to get a load of them? We know the bread lover in you would, so we did our research and list down bakery cafes which are worth the trip… just for the breads. But if you also want to enjoy other items from their menu, we won’t stop you.

1. Tiong Bahru Bakery by Gontran Cherrier

Photo by Peh Yi Wen

What to try: Croissants For a casual place where you can enjoy freshly baked goods, head over to the main outlet of Tiong Bahru Bakery at Eng Hoon Street. Helmed by Parisian Boulanger Gontran Cherrier, who has years of experience baking breads and pastries, his creations introduce us to the French traditions of how breads are really done. For his croissants, they’re very flaky and buttery at the same time (just like how croissants should be). The layers are neither too thick nor thin, and there’s more than a layer of filling when you bite into them. So, you get your money’s worth. To know more about croissants, click here --- Address: 56 Eng Hoon Street, #01-70, Singapore 160056 Tel. No.: +65 6220 3440 Operation Hours: Daily: 8am to 8pm

2. Paul Bakery

Photo courtesy of Paul Bakery

What to try: Chocolate Croissant The French know their breads well, and Paul is no different. Having been in existence since 1889, this chain of bakery café finally made its way to Singapore a couple years back to share its delicious products. Now occupying a big outlet at Takashimaya, it’s not hard to spot this Parisian-themed outlet with the smell of freshly-baked breads greeting you. A must-try would be the Chocolate Croissant, which is made with thick chocolate filing hidden beneath all the layers of flaky and buttery pastry. --- Address: 391 Orchard Road, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, #03-16/17 Singapore Tel. No.: +65 6836 1915 (Restaurant), +65 6836 5932 (Bakery) Operation Hours: 9am to 9:30pm

3. Bread Society

Photo courtesy of Bread Society

What to try: Mentaiko Baguette Have you visited Suntec City recently? If you have, then you’d see that Bread Society has expanded its outlet to include a café. Exciting new items can be found on its new menu; but the bakery also deserves a shout out. Six new creations from Japanese Pastry Chef Atsushi Murata are now available, and the one which caught our attention was the Mentaiko Baguette, a French loaf with an added twist. On top of the crust bread are loads of mentaiko roe and unsalted butter. --- Address: Suntec City,#03-301/302, 3 Temasek Boulevard Tel. No.: +65 6338 4344 Operation Hours: Mon to Thur: 7:30am to 10pm Fri, Sat, PH: 7:30am to 11pm Sun, PH: 9am to 10pm

4. Maison Kayser

Photo by Bernard Tan

What to try: The Orange The Orange – such a simple name for a bread which packs a punch. From a well-known Parisian boulangerie that made its way to Singapore, The Orange is made from sweetened orange peels which are responsible for that sweet and tangy taste. As for the dough, it’s dense yet is still very soft to bite. It’s a definite must-try! --- Address: Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, #B1-09 Orchard 228209 Tel. No.: +65 6636 3672 Operation Hours: Daily: 8am to 8pm

5. Baker and Cook

Photo courtesy of knockonfood.wordpress.com

What to try: Assorted Bread Loaves With Global Baker Dean Dean Brettschneider behind this concept, the result can only be dubbed as Singapore’s “only true artisan bakery” (their words, not ours). With over 25 years of baking experience, he has successfully combined his influences and tricks to give Singapore a taste of finely baked products; whether these are baguettes, cakes, tarts, or doughnuts! Do enjoy these items with a cup of pressed coffee specially imported from New Zealand, Chef’s home country. And if you’re feeling hungry, the all-day breakfast items are also worth a try. --- Address: 77 Hillcrest Road, Greenwood, Singapore 288951 Tel. No.: +65 6469 8834 Operation Hours: Sun to Thur: 7am to 8pm Fri to Sat: 7am to 10pm

6. Carpenter and Cook

Photo courtesy of marymaddierose.wordpress.com

What to try: Swirly Bun Known to be more of a dessert place, Carpenter & Cook also makes pretty amazing breads. A definite showstopper is The Swirly Bun, which is not your ordinary bread (though it may look plain and simple). Inside the slightly dense yet moist dough is a swirl of flavours from the stuffed ham and red bell pepper. And if those aren’t enough for your hungry palate, there’s the generous topping of grated cheese to finish off the look. The mixture of flavours makes this quite interesting and doesn’t leave you too stuffed. --- Address: 19 Lorong Kilat, #01-06 Singapore 598120 Tel. No.: +65 6463 3648 Operation Hours: Tue to Fri: 12pm to 10pm Sat: 10am to 10pm Sun: 10am to 7pm Closed on Mondays

7. The Bread Table

Photo courtesy of The Bread Table

What to try: Kalamata Puccia (Olive-studded Bread) You can refer to The Bread Table as a hidden gem because of its hard-to-find location in the Sembawang Hills Estate. But the hunt is definitely worth it for what you will find is a variety of freshly-baked breads created by Chef Owner Joseph Lee, who has mastered the art of kneading and baking from the French Culinary Institute in New York. There are so many unique items displayed; and one must-try is the Olive-studded bread made with a blend of white and whole wheat flours, premium olive oil and smooth, meaty black olives. --- Address: 14 Jalan Kuras, Singapore 577728 Tel. No.: +65 6100 1345 Operation Hours: Mon to Sat: 11am to 8pm Closed on Sundays

8. Bread King

Photo courtesy of Bread King

What to try: Gluten-free Breads Good gluten-free breads are hard to find; not until the establishment of Bread King. This fairly new bakery café situated within the Burghley Squash and Tennis Centre offers a delightful array of products which are best paired with their coffee. A favourite is their selection of gluten-free and lactose-free products, which more and more people are now favouring over regular breads. For the healthy options, they also have the organic bread which are baked fresh daily. Choose to eat these in their cosy café or bring home to enjoy later. --- Address: 43 Burghley Drive, Singapore 559020 Tel. No.: +65 6289 2508 Operation Hours: 7:30am to 9pm

9. Maple and Market

Photo courtesy of Maple & Market

What to try: Pumpkin Curry Muffin Maple and Market is a place where you can treat yourself to some of the most interesting creations around - Pumpkin Curry Muffin. In their Facebook page, the chef who created this recipe said that she was craving for curry chicken while thinking of a pumpkin muffin recipe. As a result, she created one of the bakery café’s best-sellers. Another interesting thing to note about this place is that they’re more than just a dining place. They also have baking classes where you can sign up and learn how to make some of the breads and pastries they sell in their shop. --- Address: 34 Cassia Crescent, #01-82 Singapore 390034 Tel. No.: +65 6348 8068 Operation Hours: 12pm to 10pm See Also: Visit these popular artisanal bakeries Try out these newest restaurants in the local food scene